Click here to watch Leigh Brown interview his teammates and Mansfield locals during the camp

On Monday night during the club’s AFL Telstra Community Camp, the Mansfield Eagles hosted the Collingwood Magpies for dinner and dessert in the clubrooms.

At the end of the night a short Q & A session was held with coaches and players fielding questions from the crowd.

These are some of the more intriguing answers during the night.

Head coach Michael Malthouse on picking the side’s 22 every week

There is no such word but I am going to invent one.  The process of picking the side’s best 22 is a dictatorial democracy.  While I hold this position as head coach it’s so important you control your own destiny.  I was told that the first week I started in coaching in 1984 and one of the great coaches of the time said to me you live and die by your actions. 

Assistant coach Mark Neeld on picking the side’s 22

What Mick was trying to say is that the way the match committee works is before we get into the room, Mick will place 22 magnets on the board in positions.  For three-and-half hours we talk about them, take some off and throw some new ones in but when the meeting is finished they (the magnets) are exactly where they started.

Maxwell on captaining

You never know what to expect from the start but I have learned from some of the best leaders this club has ever had including Bucks, Jimmy Clement, Paul Licuria, Shane Wakelin and Scotty Burns so I have had some great guys to look up to.  You try to do it your own way though.  I try to find the guys who want to be leaders and want to drive Mick’s message.

Luke Ball on his groins

I am fine.  I am in full training at the moment.  The guys have had a big preseason and are really fit and I started a little bit later but I have tried to catch up.  In terms of the groins, no dramas there, I haven’t had a problem for a couple of years so I am happy to never talk about them never again if possible.

Didak on position this season

I seem to think I play most of my footy in the forward line.  Neeld wants me to play in the midfield and Bucks in the forward line so I will leave it up to them.  I have been training mostly in the midfield but as the games get closer I think I will spend some more time up forward.

Prestigiacomo on playing on for his 15th season

I have been around for a while.  I suppose my role is to get as many games as I can for myself and to try and help a few of the younger guys.  Hopefully I don’t instruct them too well otherwise they might take my spot.

Hopefully I can finish off with a premiership, which is the reason I keep playing.

Former schoolmate of Josh Fraser’s: I don’t know if you remember your last day of Year 12?  You came and got me out of class to finish your woodwork assignment so you could pass Year 12.  You promised me on that day that you would take me to the Brownlow.  I am still waiting.

I haven’t been to many.  Presti is the man you want to talk to. 

Prestigiacomo

Obviously Josh rated himself because he said in Year 12 he is going to the Brownlow.